Category: Curry

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Punjabi Chicken & Spinach Curry

curry

As the weather begins to cool, try out this hearty and spicy Punjabi chicken and spinach curry recipe. Disclaimer: Aromas from cooking this dish may result in random hungry neighbours knocking at your door (answer at your own risk).

Punjabi Chicken & Spinach Curry
Serves 2
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For the marinade
  1. 275g chicken thigh, cut into 2” chunks
  2. 1 tbsp Greek yoghurt
  3. 1” ginger, grated
  4. 1/2 clove ginger, grated
  5. ½ tsp salt
For the masala
  1. 1 small white onion, peeled
  2. 2” ginger
  3. 1 clove garlic
  4. 3 tbsp olive oil
  5. 1 tsp cumin seeds
  6. 3” cinnamon stick
  7. 2 cloves
  8. 3 peppercorns
  9. 1 bay leaf
  10. 1 black cardamom
  11. 1 tsp salt
  12. 1 tsp garam masala
  13. ½ tsp paprika
  14. ½ tsp turmeric powder
  15. 2 tbsp chopped tomatoes & juice
  16. 2 tsp tomato puree
  17. 1 cup fresh spinach leaves, roughly shredded
  18. 1 green chilli
Instructions
  1. Turn your grill on or pre-heat your oven on the highest temperature
  2. Place all "marinade" ingredients into a bowl and mix together
  3. Place the marinated chicken on a foil lined oven tray. Grill or roast for 5-6 minutes until cooked (the chicken should be white all the way through once fully cooked)
  4. Remove from heat and cover with foil
  5. To make the masala, coarsely grind onions, ginger and garlic in a food processer
  6. Heat oil in a non stick pan. Once hot add the cumin alongside the cinnamon, cloves, peppercorns, bay leaf and black cardamom
  7. When they begin to sizzle in the oil, add the ground onion, ginger and garlic mixture. Add salt and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring continuously
  8. When they turn slightly golden, add the garam masala, paprika and turmeric powder and mix well. Now add the chopped tomatoes and tomato puree and mash into the masala.
  9. At this point, add the grilled chicken to the masala and mix together
  10. Using a food processor, grind together the spinach and green chilli. Now add this paste to the chicken masala.
  11. Add 1/4 cup of water and cook on high heat for 4-5 minutes
  12. Serve hot with delicious chapatis. Enjoy!
Monica's Spice Diary - Indian Food Blog https://spicediary.com/
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Oven Baked Goan Chicken Curry

goan chicken curry

I have said it before and I’ll say it again-I love the vastness and diversity that Indian cookery has to offer! I’m constantly learning about new regional dishes which continue to broaden my culinary perspective on Indian cuisine. I feel so lucky to have lots of family who reside in India and I visit them as often as I can-and as much as I love catching up and staying with my loved ones (how can I not love staying with my Grandma won’t stop feeding me until I look “healthy”?), I always endeavour to do as much exploring and traveling as I can in my motherland. Recently I got the opportunity to visit Go-a wonderful, former Portuguese province, that fuses Eastern & Western culture into one state. A popular tourist destination, Goa is well known for its beaches, markets, history, spice plantations and most importantly its food! Today’s recipe is inspired by this spicy, fresh and flavoursome cuisine and features ingredients typically found in Goan dishes such as chilli, tamarind & fresh coconut. It’s oven baked which adds a lovely depth and richness to the dish making it perfect to be mopped up with hot fresh chappatis and a cold winter’s evening!

 

Serves 4

What we need:
1/2 kg boneless skinned chicken thighs cut into 2″ cubes
4 tbsp plain yoghurt
Juice from 1/2 lemon
4 tsp salt
2 tsp garam masala
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp coriander powder
4 small potatoes, peeled and cut into 8 pieces (optional)
1″ cinnamon stick
1 black cardamom 
1 green cardamom
2 cloves
1 tsp cumin seeds
2 bay leaves
3 tbsp olive oil
2 onions, peeled & roughly chopped
1 green chilli
4″ ginger, peeled & roughly chopped
2 garlic cloves, peeled
1/4 cup fresh coconut grated or 1/4 tin coconut milk
1 tsp tamarind paste (optional)
2 plum tomatoes and 3 tbsp tomato juice (from tin)
1 handful fresh coriander

How to:

  • Place chicken in a bowl and add 2 tbsp yoghurt, lemon juice, 2 tsp salt, 1 tsp garam masala and 1 tsp paprika. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
  • Pre-heat oven at 220C (or the highest temperature your oven goes to). In the mean time, place the chicken and the potatoes in a deep roasting tray.
  • Once the oven is hot,  cook for approximately 15 minutes. Turn the chicken pieces over and cook for a remaining 10-12 minutes or until the chicken is cooked and white all the way through. Remove the chicken but keep the oven on.
  • In a food processor add the onions, green chilli, ginger and garlic and blitz until a coarse paste forms.
  • Heat the oil in a non stick pan. Once hot, add the cinnamon stick, black cardamom, green cardamom, cloves, cumin seeds & bay leaves. When they begin to splatter in the oil, add the coarse masala paste into the pan alongside 2 tsp salt and cook on medium heat for 3-5 minutes. When the masala turns slightly golden in colour, add the coconut and continue to cook for 5-7 minutes. Now add 1 tsp garam masala, 1 tsp paprika and the turmeric. Mix well for 1-2 minutes.
  • Add the tamarind paste and plum tomatoes & mash well. Continue to cook for 3-4 minutes or until you see the oil begin to separate from the masala.  Now add the coriander. Check for salt and adjust accordingly.
  • Add the masala to the roasting tray containing the chicken and mix. Cover with foil.
  • Place in the tray back into the oven and cook for 12 minutes.
  • Garnish with fresh grated coconut & coriander. Serve with fresh chappatis or basmati rice.

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Keema Aloo Mattar Masala (Spicy Minced Lamb, Potato & Peas)

keema mattar

When I got home from work on Sunday night (that’s right I work on Sundays booo), I was starving. And of course when you’re particularly hungry you never have anything in the fridge. Well, technically I did, but the only thing I was really in the mood for making was…a reservation so I didn’t even bother to look. As my id and super-ego battled out my dinner options, it suddenly dawned on me that I had bought home some fresh lamb mince the day before. I was then overcome with a massive craving for Keema Aloo Matter Masala (a classic Punjabi spicy minced lamb, potato & peas dish). It’s an amazingly simple yet flavourful dish and tastes so good with accompanying fresh chapatis or bread to soak up all the deliciousness. If there any vegetarians reading, this recipe is great as the lamb can be replaced with minced soya. Never wanting to leave anyone out-how sweet am I? 🙂

Enjoy the recipe and please do comment or tweet me your thoughts!

Serves 4-6

What we need:

4-5tbsp Olive oil
1kg minced lamb
4 medium sized potatoes, boiled and quartered
1 cup peas
3 bay leaves
1/4 cinnamon stick
2 black cardamoms (optional)
5-6 whole black peppercorns
1 tsp cumin seeds
2 onions, finely chopped
2 green chillis, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, grated
3″ fresh ginger, grated
1/2 tin plum tomatoes
2-3 tsp salt or according to taste
1.5 tsp garam masala
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp paprika powder
Handful fresh coriander

How we do:
– Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a wide open pan. Once hot add the bay leaves, cinnamon, cardamoms, peppercorns and cumin seeds. When they begin to splatter, add the mince and mix well. -Add 1 tsp of salt and cook for 4-6 minutes stirring continuously. Place a lid on the pan and let it cook for a further 5-10 minutes and mix every couple of minutes. As the mince begins to cook it will change colour and will begin to darken. Once any excess moisture has been fully absorbed and the mince is fully cooked, turn off the heat.
-In a separate pan, heat 2-3 tbsp of olive oil. Once hot, add the onions, green chillis and 1 tsp salt. Cook the onions until they become semi golden/translucent. At this point add the ginger and garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes.
-Now add the garam masala, turmeric powder and paprika and cook for a couple of minutes. Add the tomatoes at this point and mash well into the masala. When the oil begins to separate add the fresh coriander and add the mince with it and add 2 cups of water. Add the potatoes and peas at this point.
-Place a lid and bring it to a boil. Reduce to simmer and let it cook for a good 10-15 minutes stirring every few minutes.
-Check for salt and adjust accordingly to your taste.
-You are officially done! Serve with hot chapatis.